The Kaduna State Government has launched the training of 1,000 forest guards as part of a renewed strategy to curb banditry and restore security in communities affected by criminal activities.
The forest guards, drawn largely from frontline communities familiar with local terrain, began a six-week intensive training programme at the Police College in Kaduna. The initiative is being coordinated in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and is aimed at strengthening surveillance and intelligence gathering in forested areas often used as hideouts by armed bandits.
Speaking at the commencement of the training, Governor Uba Sani, represented by his Chief of Staff, Sani Kila, urged the recruits to embrace discipline, professionalism and patriotism as they prepare to serve their communities. He stressed that the guards would work closely with conventional security agencies to identify criminal elements, monitor suspicious activities and provide timely intelligence for security operations.
According to the state government, the newly trained personnel will be deployed to some of Kaduna's most security-challenged local government areas, including Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kagarko, Kachia, Chikun, Kajuru and Igabi. Authorities believe their knowledge of the local environment will give security agencies a strategic advantage in tracking criminal networks operating within forests and remote settlements.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu, said the forest guards would complement the efforts of the military, police and other security agencies by gathering intelligence, monitoring forest corridors and helping prevent attacks on rural communities. He added that the initiative is expected to improve safety, enable farmers to return to their farmlands and support economic activities in affected areas.
The recruitment and training programme forms part of broader efforts by the Kaduna State Government to address insecurity, safeguard lives and property, and create a more secure environment for residents. Officials expressed confidence that the deployment of the forest guards would significantly reduce criminal activities and contribute to lasting peace across the state.
Security experts have long argued that community-based security structures can play a crucial role in supporting conventional security agencies, particularly in rural areas where difficult terrain often hampers rapid response operations. The Kaduna initiative is therefore being viewed as a significant step toward strengthening local security architecture and improving intelligence-led operations against bandit groups.
